Anelise Chen
The Man Who Turned His Own Crucifixion into Art
A new documentary tells the story of Chris Burden, the pioneering artist whose extreme bodily works changed performance art forever.
Swimming to Save the World
Read an excerpt from Anelise Chen’s debut novel 'So Many Olympic Exertions,' a joyous mix of sports trivia, philosophy, and semiautobiographical fiction.
Inside the Terrifying, Absurd World of a Women’s Rights Activist in China
We spoke to director Nanfu Wang about her harrowing documentary 'Hooligan Sparrow' about the Chinese government's relentless pursuit of activist Ye Haiyan.
The Surprisingly Chill Life of a Modern-Day Gladiator
We hung out with a Roman gladiator reenactor, who exists somewhere between actor, amateur athlete, and armchair historian.
Why Is Everyone in China Flipping Out Over This Rom-Com About a Mermaid?
What is it about Stephen Chow’s 'The Mermaid' that makes it the highest-earning film of all time in China?
China’s Rent-a-Foreigner Industry Is Alive and Kicking
We spoke with the director of 'Dream Empire,' a new documentary about the Chinese real-estate bubble and its connection to another curious industry.
‘The Assassin’ Director Hou Hsiao-Hsien Talks About His Feminist Martial Arts Film
The influential Taiwanese filmmaker's gorgeous new movie centers on a woman who kills men, doesn't speak, and barely shows any skin.